COMMERCIAL/RESIDENTIAL SERVICES
What is a Septic System?
A septic system is a method of dealing with household wastewater in areas where public sewers are not available. The standard type of septic system involves a septic tank (to hold wastewater from toilets and drainpipes until solids settle out in the tank), and a system of pipes that distribute the remaining liquid waste underground over a large area –the leach field–where the wastewater “percolates” through the soil, which helps to clean the water. The goal is to make sure that this filtration though the soil is sufficient to clean the wastewater before it reaches drinking water well sources or surface waters.
What is a Septic System?
A septic system is a method of dealing with household wastewater in areas where public sewers are not available. The standard type of septic system involves a septic tank (to hold wastewater from toilets and drainpipes until solids settle out in the tank), and a system of pipes that distribute the remaining liquid waste underground over a large area –the leach field–where the wastewater “percolates” through the soil, which helps to clean the water. The goal is to make sure that this filtration though the soil is sufficient to clean the wastewater before it reaches drinking water well sources or surface waters.
Residential Services
We can design a system that will satisfy the regulatory agency and your wishes as well. We would need a site pan that will give us a good start on the layout. Did you Know that: About 45,000 on-site wastewater treatment systems are installed annually in Texas to treat wastewater from rural and suburban homes as well as from small businesses. An on-site wastewater treatment system collects, treats and applies wastewater to the soil.
By definition, wastewater managed by an on-site system cannot leave the property where it is generated. The water can evaporate into the air, transpire though plants or move though the soil to groundwater. An effective on-site system removes wastewater from the home, treats and distributes the wastewater, and protects our water resources.
Selecting the appropriate system for the site conditions is critical to the system’s success. If you select the wrong system or design, or install, operate or maintain the system improperly, it can fail, which could result in pollution of your property and that of others. You could also be fined.
Because homeowners are responsible for conducting or contracting for maintenance of a system, they should be involved in selecting the technology, or type of system used.
Residential Services
We can design a system that will satisfy the regulatory agency and your wishes as well. We would need a site pan that will give us a good start on the layout. Did you Know that: About 45,000 on-site wastewater treatment systems are installed annually in Texas to treat wastewater from rural and suburban homes as well as from small businesses. An on-site wastewater treatment system collects, treats and applies wastewater to the soil.
By definition, wastewater managed by an on-site system cannot leave the property where it is generated. The water can evaporate into the air, transpire though plants or move though the soil to groundwater. An effective on-site system removes wastewater from the home, treats and distributes the wastewater, and protects our water resources.
Selecting the appropriate system for the site conditions is critical to the system’s success. If you select the wrong system or design, or install, operate or maintain the system improperly, it can fail, which could result in pollution of your property and that of others. You could also be fined.
Because homeowners are responsible for conducting or contracting for maintenance of a system, they should be involved in selecting the technology, or type of system used.
Residential Services
We can design a system that will satisfy the regulatory agency and your wishes as well. We would need a site pan that will give us a good start on the layout. Did you Know that: About 45,000 on-site wastewater treatment systems are installed annually in Texas to treat wastewater from rural and suburban homes as well as from small businesses. An on-site wastewater treatment system collects, treats and applies wastewater to the soil.
By definition, wastewater managed by an on-site system cannot leave the property where it is generated. The water can evaporate into the air, transpire though plants or move though the soil to groundwater. An effective on-site system removes wastewater from the home, treats and distributes the wastewater, and protects our water resources.
Selecting the appropriate system for the site conditions is critical to the system’s success. If you select the wrong system or design, or install, operate or maintain the system improperly, it can fail, which could result in pollution of your property and that of others. You could also be fined.
Because homeowners are responsible for conducting or contracting for maintenance of a system, they should be involved in selecting the technology, or type of system used.
Homeowners also should be aware of the operation and maintenance requirements of their system. Proper operation and maintenance can protect public and environmental health, increase their systems longevity, as well as protect property use and value.
Emergency repairs may be made to an OSSF providing that the repair:
- Is made for the abatement of an immediate, serious and dangerous health hazard; and
- Does not constitute an alteration of that OSSF system’s planning materials and function (which would require the issuance of a new OSSF permit).
Our office can be consulted on possible repair alternatives, but ultimately the homeowner is responsible for the repair of a failing system.
State regulations The Texas legislature passed a law (HB 1875) in 1987 to regulate onsite sewage facility (OSSF) systems statewide. The law called for regional and local governments—such as counties, cities, river authorities and special districts— to implement and enforce onsite sewage regulations with approval and oversight by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).
Although the state law has since been modified and expanded, its basic intent remains: The state sets minimum standards, and local authorities can adopt more stringent rules if the TCEQ approves them.
Homeowners also should be aware of the operation and maintenance requirements of their system. Proper operation and maintenance can protect public and environmental health, increase their systems longevity, as well as protect property use and value.
Emergency repairs may be made to an OSSF providing that the repair:
- Is made for the abatement of an immediate, serious and dangerous health hazard; and
- Does not constitute an alteration of that OSSF system’s planning materials and function (which would require the issuance of a new OSSF permit).
Our office can be consulted on possible repair alternatives, but ultimately the homeowner is responsible for the repair of a failing system.
State regulations The Texas legislature passed a law (HB 1875) in 1987 to regulate onsite sewage facility (OSSF) systems statewide. The law called for regional and local governments—such as counties, cities, river authorities and special districts— to implement and enforce onsite sewage regulations with approval and oversight by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).
Although the state law has since been modified and expanded, its basic intent remains: The state sets minimum standards, and local authorities can adopt more stringent rules if the TCEQ approves them.
Homeowners also should be aware of the operation and maintenance requirements of their system. Proper operation and maintenance can protect public and environmental health, increase their systems longevity, as well as protect property use and value.
Emergency repairs may be made to an OSSF providing that the repair:
- Is made for the abatement of an immediate, serious and dangerous health hazard; and
- Does not constitute an alteration of that OSSF system’s planning materials and function (which would require the issuance of a new OSSF permit).
Our office can be consulted on possible repair alternatives, but ultimately the homeowner is responsible for the repair of a failing system.
State regulations The Texas legislature passed a law (HB 1875) in 1987 to regulate onsite sewage facility (OSSF) systems statewide. The law called for regional and local governments—such as counties, cities, river authorities and special districts— to implement and enforce onsite sewage regulations with approval and oversight by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).
Although the state law has since been modified and expanded, its basic intent remains: The state sets minimum standards, and local authorities can adopt more stringent rules if the TCEQ approves them.
Contact Us to Learn How EDG can help with
your Residential Wastewater Needs
Contact Us to Learn How EDG can help with
your Residential Wastewater Needs
Commercial Services
Commercial Wastewater systems really encompass a broad range of systems.
In brief, this is any system that isn’t for a residence. This includes such things as:
- Schools
- Manufacturing Facilities
- Shopping Centers
- Restaurants
- Subdivision Central Plants
- Municipalities
- Resort and Conference Centers
- Retreat Camps
- Hunting/Fishing Lodges
- RV Parks
- Hotels/Motels
- Breweries
- Medical Centers
- Amusement Parks
- and more
Generally, a commercial wastewater system is anything that is either high strength sewage. Our designs, done by a Registered Professional Sanitarian, can be either local permit level, or state permit level through Texas Commission on Environmental Quality ( TCEQ ). This can be a discharge permit, or a non-discharge permit.
Commercial Services
Commercial Wastewater systems really encompass a broad range of systems.
In brief, this is any system that isn’t for a residence. This includes such things as:
- Schools
- Manufacturing Facilities
- Shopping Centers
- Restaurants
- Subdivision Central Plants
- Municipalities
- Resort and Conference Centers
- Retreat Camps
- Hunting/Fishing Lodges
- RV Parks
- Hotels/Motels
- Breweries
- Medical Centers
- Amusement Parks
- and more
Generally, a commercial wastewater system is anything that is either high strength sewage. Our designs, done by a Registered Professional Sanitarian, can be either local permit level, or state permit level through Texas Commission on Environmental Quality ( TCEQ ). This can be a discharge permit, or a non-discharge permit.
The Commercial Process
is Vastly Different.
In the State of Texas, there is a “trigger point” in the permit process, as to how a permit is obtained for a wastewater system, be it on onsite system, or central collection system.
you must obtain a permit from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. This process can be quite time consuming.
you can often (but not always) obtain a permit from your local Regulatory Authority. It is important to understand that your effluent “strength” may also require you to design and construct a “commercial” system. Any sewage beyond a biochemical oxygen demand of 140 mg/L BOD is considered “high strength”, or with other unusual components (such as fats, oils, greases, or unusually high suspended solids). This can actually happen in a residence, too. With onsite commercial systems it is vitally important to not only address the hydraulic loading of the system (how many gallons per day/week/month/year and any unusual “peak” events), but more importantly the biological loading, in terms of the waste stream being put “down the drain”. Different types of commercial establishments generate vastly different sewage strengths, often at different times of the day, and we will help you identify these items for a proper design by a Professional Engineer for your site. You may be told that there are “charts” from which a cookbook design may be done. This is not true. Each commercial design needs to be site specific, and designed with the specific operating conditions of the site, the ability of the soils on the site to process the mass-loading of the effluent, and the intended use of the system carefully considered. Lack of proper planning and operation often results in costly system failure. If you find someone with an inexpensive “cookbook” design, please be aware that even if you get a permit from your local agency, the issuance of a permit does not guarantee the system will work. The Permit Authority relies upon the designer to properly design the system, and current State Codes are design minimums, only.
loadings, and sizes a plant, with proper flow equalization, pre-treatment, and clarifiers where they will do the most good, in the most cost-effective manner, in terms of life-cycle. Additionally, please note that the use of pre-existing small scale aerobic treatment units, that carry a NSF Class I rating, and on a State-approved list, are for Residential Use ONLY. While they may be used in smaller commercial systems, State Law requires you use the services of a Registered Professional Engineer to design such systems, as you are modifying the use for which these units were originally intended.
Our firm has diverse experience in all sizes of systems.
We have been involved with phased systems that exceed several hundred thousand gallons per day.
We recommend that you consult with a Licensed Registered Engineer before you expend any major funds on a property purchase. A little money spent doing a feasibility can save you thousands of dollars later. There are a variety of cost-effective methods to treat and dispose of effluent. Let us show you how. Please contact us for our current fee schedule to perform feasibility analysis for your project. Fast track work is available (for performing due diligence during a real estate option period).
Discharge Types
Effluent Storage Tank Under Construction
Large Drip Irrigation System
This is one of many questions that must be considered in the design process. In short, do you want to do a direct discharge of your effluent, or do you want to keep all effluent onsite? We can “run the numbers” on the most cost-effective manner in which to treat – and therefore dispose of – your proposed effluent. .
Commercial and High Strength Zero Discharge Wastewater Systems and Wastewater Treatment Plants
A commercial wastewater treatment plant system, onsite sewage facility (OSSF), or commercial wastewater system, covers pretty much everything that is not residential. This includes schools, hotels, conference centers, convenience stores, vet clinics, motels, apartments, factories, manufacturing facility areas, wineries, breweries, restaurants, distilleries, conference centers, RV parks, marinas, and more. We design, permit, construct, and operate systems up to 500,000 gpd in the State of Texas. The permit requirements are vastly different, under the Texas Administrative Code, for such systems.
These are generally known as ” high BOD ” systems, or high strength wastewater, meaning the sewage strength is much higher than the amounts from a residence (10 times higher, and more). Such systems require not only hydraulic load balancing and disposal, but also proper biological load balancing and treatment. This is often accomplished by flow equalization of the system. Put our licensed professional engineer’s knowledge to work for you to ensure your system will meet all present and future needs of your business, and operate without any problems in the future.
